Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog's eye is red. I used human drops with Naphazoline. Is she okay?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | French Bulldog | Female | unspayed | 6 months and 5 days old | 20 lbs

My dogs eye was a red and seemed like something was wrong. So I put some sensitive human eye drops not knowing it was dangerous and Now I’m worried. She’s acting ok but her eyes are red. What can I do? I’m really concerned for her, and I feel guilty I didn’t research prior to. The drops contain .12% Naphazoline

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 25th, 2023

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. You don’t have anything to worry about. That one instance of using the human eyedrops with Naphazoline shouldn’t be harmful long-term.

If Aspen’s eye is red, but seems otherwise normal then you can try using this eye gel that you can buy at Petco. If you use it for a couple days and there’s no resolution of the redness, then you need to take her to a vet.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-pet-eye-gel-for-dogs If Aspen is squinting the eye, or there is a lot of discharge coming from the eye, or there is anything else abnormal apart from the redness, then you should take her to a vet before putting anything else in the eye.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

Dog has red, runny eye. Can I use my human steroid eye drops?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to an eye injury or conditions such as a corneal laceration, corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, dry eye (also known as KCS), among many other conditions. It is not safe to use human medications without knowing the exact medical condition as some treatments can actually worsen the patient's condition when used inadequately. I highly recommend that you have Hershey evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further therapy would be based on the findings. Good luck and best wishes!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's eyes need drops. Can I use them safely without a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These are used in dogs. However, I do not recommend using any eye drops without consulting with a veterinarian who can examine Iker and decide what would be best depending on what is going on. Best of luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Can I use human eye drops like Clear Eyes for my dog's red eyes?

0.03% Naphazoline with 0.5% glycerine is safe to use in dogs and cat. These are the main ingredients found in Clear Eyes. The recommended dose is 1-2 drops in the eye(s) every 6-8 hrs. If no improvement or worsening of signs within 24-48 hrs then your pet should be seen by your veterinarian to make sure nothing else is going on with the eyes.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's eye is red, drops aren't working. Should I see the vet again?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to something like conjunctivitis for example. However, there are some other diseases that really need a very thorough evaluation of the eye to diagnose. I think that if he has not improved on the current therapy, it may be a good idea to check in with your veterinarian. If they are concerned based on their knowledge of his case, they could consider having you consult with a veterinary ophthalmologist. They would be able to perform a thorough evaluation and recommend accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my 6-month puppy have a red eye and discharge in one eye?

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. It sounds like Nami has conjunctivitis. I suggest you use this product to help flush the eye out a couple times a day. If after 2-3 days there is no improvement then you should take her to your vet for an exam and to get some prescription medication. ( ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a red, itchy, goopy eye. Can I use Polysporin on it?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Eddie is having eye issues. Red eyes with discharge in dogs can be due to a variety of reasons, including allergies, an eye infection, a scratched cornea, dry eye, or another underlying issue. While antibiotic drops may help with some of these, they may not fix it depending on what the cause is. I would recommend Eddie be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his eye issue, have any necessary testing done (eye stain, pressure check, tear production check) and what medications (if any) he may need. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has yellow eye discharge. Can I use human Refresh drops?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, Refresh artificial tear solutions are safe for dogs. You can try applying some drops to her eyes 3-4 times a day to see if this resolves her clinical signs. Yellow discharge can be a sign of infection, however, which requires eye medications prescribed by your veterinarian. They will first want to perform a full ocular exam to look for evidence of corneal scratches or ulcers, as this would alter treatment. As a reminder, never give dogs pain medication that is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share